NEEDLE FOR DELIVERY OF DERMAL FILLER THREADS
Provided herewith is a needle for delivering dermal filler thread to a wrinkle in a patient. The needle can also be used to deliver the thread to a patient for the purposes of facial contouring. The needle comprises a coupler for attaching the thread to the needle and also a trocar to ease delivery through the skin.
1 . A needle for delivering a dermal filler comprising:
a tubular body having a proximal portion and a distal portion,
a coupler in its proximal portion for attaching a dermal filler thread to the needle, and
a trocar in its distal portion.
2 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler in its proximal portion mechanically attaches a dermal filler thread to the needle.
3 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises at least one slit along the same axis of the tubular body.
4 . The needle of claim 3 , wherein the coupler comprises a plurality of slits.
5 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises at least one strut.
6 . The needle of claim 5 , wherein the coupler comprises a plurality of struts.
7 . The needle of claim 6 , wherein the coupler comprises an even number of struts and each strut of the pair is located along the same longitudinal plane.
8 . The needle of claim 6 , wherein the struts are staggered along the length of the coupler.
9 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises at least one cleat.
10 . The needle of claim 9 , wherein the cleat is tab-shaped or tooth-shaped.
11 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises a funnel having a proximal and a distal end.
12 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is a hypotube coupler,
13 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is a detachable coupler,
14 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the trocar comprises two to four cutting edges.
15 . The needle of claim 14 , wherein the trocar comprises four cutting edges.
16 . The needle of claim 15 , wherein the two of the four cutting edges are substantially planar and the other two of the four are also substantially planar.
17 . A kit comprising a needle of claim 1 , and a thread optionally coupled thereto which is biocompatible and compressible.
18 . The kit of claim 17 , wherein the thread comprises hyaluronic acid, salt, hydrate or solvate thereof optionally wherein at least a portion of the hyaluronic acid, salt, hydrate or solvate thereof is cross-linked.
19 . The kit of claim 18 , further comprising a sheath.
20 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the sheath comprises a pull tab.
21 . The kit of claim 20 , wherein the sheath is a self-buckling sheath.
22 . The kit of claim 18 , wherein the thread is coupled to the needle.
23 . The kit of claim 22 , wherein the thread is mechanically coupled to the needle.